CN115257424A

CN115257424A - Fan unit, conduction charging unit, motor vehicle and method for operating fan unit

Info

Publication number: CN115257424A
Application number: CN202210455406.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·施特拉塞尔
Original assignee: Audi AG
Current assignee: Audi AG
Priority date: 2021-04-29
Filing date: 2022-04-27
Publication date: 2022-11-01
Also published as: DE102021111035A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fan unit (28) for a conductive charging unit (12) of a motor vehicle (10), which is designed for automatic coupling to a charging plate (16) outside the motor vehicle, which charging plate provides a charging interface (24), in order to carry out a charging process for charging an energy store (14) of the motor vehicle (10), and to a method for operating the fan unit (28), the fan unit (28) being designed for providing an air flow (34) in a predetermined direction; activating the provision of the air flow (34) in dependence on a signal (S) indicating: the coupling process of conductively coupling the charging unit (12) to the charging plate (16) for carrying out the charging process is started. The fan unit (28) is designed to deactivate the provision of the air flow (34) before the end of the charging process, depending on the situation parameter (P).

Description

Fan unit, conduction charging unit, motor vehicle and method for operating a fan unit

Technical Field

The invention relates to a fan unit/ventilation unit for a conductive charging unit of a motor vehicle, which is designed for automatic coupling to a charging plate outside the motor vehicle, which charging plate provides a charging interface, in order to carry out a charging process for charging an energy store of the motor vehicle, wherein the fan unit is designed for supplying an air flow in a predetermined direction, in particular in the direction of the charging plate, the supply of the air flow being activated as a function of a signal which indicates: the beginning of the coupling process to conductively couple the charging unit with the charging plate for performing the charging process. The invention also relates to a conductive charging unit having such a fan unit, to a motor vehicle and to a method for operating a fan unit.

Background

For example, DE 10 2016 121 355 A1 describes a vehicle connection device for electrically connecting a vehicle contact unit with a ground contact unit of a charging infrastructure. The vehicle contact unit can be moved towards the ground contact unit and away from the ground contact unit. The vehicle contact unit is fixed on the vehicle underside. The vehicle contact unit also has at least one air outlet for purging the ground contact unit. Furthermore, the vehicle contact unit may comprise a bellows having an inner cavity. The end of the bellows on the vehicle side is fixed at the bottom of the vehicle, while the end of the bellows facing away from the vehicle is fixed on the vehicle contact unit. On the end of the bellows there is arranged a plate in which an outlet is provided for feeding air from the inner cavity of the bellows, the plate also having a contact area in which at least two electrodes are arranged. For charging, the vehicle contact unit is lowered until a gap is formed between the base, e.g., the plate, and the ground contact unit. Before contact is established, the gap can be purged by means of an air outlet. In this case, dirt, leaves or liquids already present on the floor contact unit are conveyed to the outside by the strong air flow. Furthermore, when the temperature is below freezing or when a layer of snow or ice is already present, the heating device can be operated to remove the layer of snow or ice and dry the contact. Subsequently, contact is established and the vehicle is charged. In this case, the valve of the air outlet remains open during the entire charging process, so that a continuous air flow is to flow through the gap, which is to cool the electrode.

Since the charging process usually lasts for several hours, the overall efficiency is reduced by the generated air flow. Furthermore, the fan always emits unpleasant noise during the entire charging process.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fan unit, a conductive charging unit, a motor vehicle and a method for operating a fan unit, which enable an increase in the efficiency during conductive charging and at the same time enable an automatic conductive coupling of a charging unit on the vehicle side to a charging plate outside the motor vehicle in a reliable manner.

The object is achieved by a fan unit, a conductive charging unit, a motor vehicle and a method having the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

In a fan unit according to the invention for a conductive charging unit of a motor vehicle, which is designed for automatic coupling to a charging plate outside the motor vehicle, which charging plate provides a charging interface, in order to carry out a charging process for charging an energy store of the motor vehicle, the fan unit is designed to provide an air flow in a predetermined direction, the provision of the air flow being activated as a function of a signal which indicates: the beginning of the coupling process of conductively coupling the charging unit with the charging plate for performing the charging process. The fan unit is designed to deactivate the provision of the air flow before the end of the charging process, depending on the situation/situation parameters.

The invention is based on the recognition that such conductive charging systems are used primarily for private use and are therefore often used in private garages. Thus, a continuous water load is almost excluded at a private garage. Additional contaminants such as dirt, leaves, etc. also appear significantly less at the private garage. However, even in a garage, water or snow melt water may drip from the vehicle onto the floor, or generally onto the charging pad, for example during winter. It is therefore advantageous if the fan unit is also activated as is customary at the beginning of the coupling process, i.e. before contact is established between the conductive charging unit and the charging plate of the motor vehicle, so that the air flow provided can be used to clean the contact surfaces. Furthermore, the invention is based on the recognition that it is not necessary, at least not in any case, to have the fan unit activated also for the entire duration of the charging process. The provision of an air flow can thus advantageously be controlled as required by deactivating the condition-dependent parameter, whereby the fan unit can often be deactivated in advance, that is to say before the charging process has ended, whereby a significant energy saving can be achieved. As a result, the efficiency of the conduction charging system as a whole can be significantly increased, since the energy consumption of the fan during operation can be saved. Furthermore, the fan, i.e. the fan unit in general, can be designed to have a shorter service life and is therefore cheaper. The duration of the disturbing fan noise can also be reduced.

In this case, the conductive charging unit and the charging plate outside the motor vehicle can provide a charging system as described above with respect to the prior art. In other words, the fan unit according to the invention is preferably used in such a conductive charging unit of a motor vehicle. Such a conductive charging unit is therefore preferably provided for mounting on the vehicle on the underside, and the charging plate is accordingly preferably designed as a floor. In this case, the contact between the charging unit and the charging plate is achieved, for example, in that the charging contact of the charging unit is moved out in a movement-out direction, in particular in a direction toward the charging plate, for coupling with the charging interface of the charging plate, until finally a physical charging contact is established between the charging contact and the charging interface.

The invention therefore also includes a conductive charging unit for a motor vehicle having a fan unit according to the invention or a configuration of the conductive charging unit which is described in more detail below. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous here if the conductive charging unit has a charging contact for coupling to a charging interface of the charging plate, wherein the charging contact can be moved out in a removal direction for coupling to the charging plate, wherein the charging unit has a protective sleeve which surrounds the charging contact perpendicularly to the removal direction, for example a bellows as described above in relation to the prior art, which bellows can be removed together with the charging contact. The fan unit is also preferably designed to provide an air flow inside the protective sleeve in the removal direction before the charging contacts are completely removed. Thus, when the fan unit or the charging unit is positioned as specified relative to the charging pad, the predetermined direction in which the air flow is provided by the fan unit is directed in the direction of the charging pad. In particular, the charging unit is also designed for positioning on the underside of the motor vehicle, and the charging contact is designed for coupling with a charging plate designed as a floor. In other words, the floor should be arranged on the foundation.

Furthermore, the fan unit can have a fan or blower for generating an air flow and a control device for actuating the fan. The control device can accordingly also be designed to detect a signal which indicates the beginning of a coupling process for conductively coupling the charging unit to the charging plate. For example, the start of the coupling process may indicate the moment at which the charging contact of the charging unit starts to move out in order to contact the charging interface of the floor. The signal indicating the start of the coupling process can also be an activation signal for activating the removal of the charging contact or be dependent thereon. Here, the air flow or the fan does not have to be activated at the same time as the coupling process begins, but rather the fan can be activated and thus the air flow can be provided before a physical contact is established between the charging unit and the charging plate. This makes it possible to clean the contact surface efficiently and reliably before contact is established. The start of the charging process may be defined by the start of the current flow between the charging pad and the charging unit. Accordingly, the end of the charging process may be defined by the end of the current flow.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fan unit is designed to deactivate the air flow as a function of weather data provided as a situation parameter, wherein the weather data is current weather data and/or weather data associated with a certain preceding time period. By stopping the supply of the air flow also at the beginning of the charging process after a certain time, it is already advantageously possible to remove dirt and possibly liquids, such as water, from the contact surface by means of the initially supplied air flow. For example, if there is currently no rain or no rain in the near future, it can also be assumed that there is no risk at all that liquid penetrates between the charging unit and the charging plate, for example into small gaps, during the further continuation of the charging process, which could impair the charging process. Accordingly, it is particularly advantageous to control and deactivate the fan unit in dependence on current or shortly before weather data. In this case, for example, in particular the ambient temperature and the presence or absence of precipitation or the precipitation probability are particularly advantageous as weather data. But also the current cloud cover situation, air humidity or similar conditions may be considered. Such weather data can be acquired, for example, directly from the motor vehicle, for example by means of an existing temperature sensor and/or rain sensor or the like, or, if necessary, from an external service via the internet. It is also particularly advantageous here to take into account not only the current weather data but also weather data which are relevant to the weather situation of a specific preceding time period immediately preceding the current time. For example, if it is raining recently, the probability that the motor vehicle gets wet and residual liquid may drip from the motor vehicle onto the floor is high, for example. Thus, for example, if it is determined, based on weather data, that the motor vehicle is dry at the location of the stop, and within the last few hours, the fan unit can be deactivated shortly after the start of the charging process, for example after a few minutes up to an hour. If rain starts, for example, during the course of a charging process, with the fan unit deactivated, the fan unit can also be reactivated again, for example.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fan unit is designed to deactivate the air flow as a function of data relating to the current season as a situational parameter. The risk of ice or snow being present on the floor increases, for example, in winter. Furthermore, even if there is sudden absence of precipitation, snow melt water from the snow that is still on the roof of the vehicle may continue to drip down onto the floor after a longer period of time. Such a risk is not present, for example, in summer. It is particularly advantageous to also take the current season into account in the fan control. For example, it can be provided that the fan remains in principle in operation for a longer time during the winter months than, for example, during the summer. But this may also rely on current and near-old weather data in a more differentiated way.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fan unit is designed to deactivate the air flow as a function of data relating to the route the motor vehicle has traveled last time, as a situational parameter. The background is that it is advantageous to first consider the weather at the location of the motor vehicle to judge how long the fan should be activated. For example, if there is no rain at the location of the charging pad, both now and in the past few days, it cannot be automatically assumed that there is certainly no water on the charging contacts. For example, it is possible that a motor vehicle has recently traveled in a completely different area that had been exposed to rain or snow. If the motor vehicle is now charged, rain or melting snow water can correspondingly drip from the motor vehicle onto the floor. Furthermore, for example, the location of the motor vehicle in the immediate vicinity can also be evaluated, in particular with regard to the devices located there, for example a car wash. If the motor vehicle has recently been washed in a vehicle washing system, residual liquid may likewise fall from the vehicle onto the floor during charging or at least the probability increases accordingly. This can also be advantageously taken into account in the fan control. Accordingly, it is particularly advantageous if data relating to the route traveled by the last motor vehicle are also taken into account when controlling the fan unit or the fan. In particular, the last route traveled and its position data can also be used to compare the weather data described above for one or more regions of the route traveled. It is therefore possible to take account exclusively of the weather data for the last route traveled in the deactivation process.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fan unit is designed to deactivate the air flow as a function of data relating to the time since the last driving of the motor vehicle as a condition parameter. If the motor vehicle has been parked at the same location for a relatively long time and there is no rain for a relatively long time at this location, it is unlikely that water or other liquids will fall from the vehicle onto the floor or from the environment onto the floor. The liquid that may be present can be removed by the initial activation of the fan. Since it is possible to assume the dry state of the motor vehicle, it can also be assumed in the above-described case that no new liquid can fall into the contact region after the fan has been deactivated.

As is also clear from the above-described embodiments, it is very advantageous to study the situation parameters, such as the time since the last trip and/or the last trip route, in combination with weather data as further situation parameters. Furthermore, it is correspondingly advantageous to take into account a plurality of situation parameters, for example the situation parameters described above or to be described below. For example, the probability that no new liquid falls onto the charging plate, in particular into the contact region, after deactivation of the fan can also be determined as a function of one or more condition parameters. If the determined probability is higher than a predefined threshold, the fan is deactivated, otherwise, for example, the fan is not deactivated or is deactivated only if necessary if the repeatedly determined probability finally exceeds the threshold.

In a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fan unit is designed to deactivate the air flow as a function of data as a situation parameter which relate to the properties of the location of the charging pad, in particular to the properties of whether the location has a roof. If the charging plate and thus the charging site are located in a protected area, for example below a carport or in a garage, the charging plate is exposed to significantly less environmental influences at this location than, for example, a charging plate without a roof. This embodiment can now also be advantageously taken into account in the fan control. If the charging plate is located, for example, below the roof, the fan can be deactivated in advance. In order to obtain these data with regard to the position behavior of the charging plate, for example, vehicle data and position data of the motor vehicle can be used. If the motor vehicle is located, for example, at the location of its home address, it can be assumed that the motor vehicle is charged by a privately installed charging panel during charging. The location of the charging pad is therefore known, or whether the charging pad is located in a garage is known. This can also be determined from the GPS position of the vehicle if the vehicle is charged on a common charging pad. If it is not certain here whether the charging plate is located below the roof, it can be assumed, for example, that the charging plate is in an open-air environment, which is the worst case. Alternatively or additionally, environmental sensors of the motor vehicle can also be used to determine a possibly present roof.

The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having a fan unit according to the invention or one of its embodiments or having a conductive charging unit according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

In this case, the conductive charging unit is preferably arranged in the floor area of the motor vehicle. As described, the charging plate, which is to be coupled to the charging unit for conductive charging, is preferably designed as a floor. The charging unit or at least a part thereof, in particular the charging contact, can be moved out in the direction of the floor panel for coupling with the charging interface of the floor panel until finally a physical contact is established between the charging contact and the charging interface of the floor panel. In this case, a protective sleeve designed as a bellows surrounds the charging contact and protects it from the environment during charging. In this case, the protective sleeve can contact the ground with its end in the removed state of the charging unit. However, an air-tight closure is not preferred if air, i.e. the air of the supplied air flow, can also escape from the interior of the protective sleeve further to the outside. In other words, the airflow provided by the fan may be directed through the interior of the protective sleeve outwardly toward the floor.

The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger vehicle or a truck, or as a passenger vehicle or a motorcycle.

The invention further relates to a method for operating a fan unit of a conductive charging unit of a motor vehicle, which is designed for automatic coupling to a charging plate outside the motor vehicle, which charging plate provides a charging interface, in order to carry out a charging process for charging an energy store of the motor vehicle. The fan unit provides an air flow in a predetermined direction, in particular in the direction of the charging plate, and activates the provision of the air flow as a function of a signal which indicates: the start of the coupling process of conductively coupling the charging unit with the charging plate for performing the charging process. In this case, the fan unit deactivates the provision of the air flow before the charging process is completed, depending on the situation parameter.

The advantages described for the fan unit according to the invention and its embodiments and for the conductive charging unit according to the invention and its embodiments apply in the same way to the method according to the invention.

The invention also comprises modifications of the method according to the invention having the features as already described in connection with the modifications of the fan unit according to the invention and the charging unit according to the invention. For this reason, corresponding modifications of the method according to the invention are not described here.

The invention also comprises a control device for the fan unit. The control device may have a data processing device or a processor device which is designed to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the Processor device may have at least one microprocessor and/or at least one microcontroller and/or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Furthermore, the processor device may have a program code which is designed to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention when it is run by the processor device. The program code may be stored in a data memory of the processor device.

The invention also comprises a combination of features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also includes implementations which, as long as they are not described as mutually exclusive, each have a combination of features of a plurality of the embodiments described.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are described below. The figures show that:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle with a conductive charging unit according to an embodiment of the invention; and

fig. 2 shows a flow diagram for elucidating a method for operating a fan unit of a conductive charging unit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The examples described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, in this example, the individual components of the embodiment are individual features of the invention which can be considered as independent of one another and which accordingly improve the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure should also include other combinations of features than those shown. Furthermore, the embodiments can also be supplemented by other described features of the invention.

In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate functionally similar elements, respectively.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 10 having a conductive charging unit 12 for charging an energy store 14 of the motor vehicle 10. For this purpose, the charging unit 12 can be in contact with a charging plate as a floor 16 and arranged on a foundation 18. The charging plate 16 forms a conductive charging system together with the vehicle-side charging unit 12. Such conductive charging systems are a significantly more advantageous and efficient alternative to wireless charging systems or inductive charging systems. In this case, the contact between the charging unit 12 and the floor 16 takes place automatically, i.e. the user does not have to establish a physical connection between the charging unit and the floor 16 manually for this purpose. Here, the connection is effected from below. In other words, the charging unit is arranged in the floor area 20 of the motor vehicle 10. The charging unit has charging contacts 22 that can be physically coupled to corresponding charging interfaces 24 of the floor 16. In this case, the charging contact 22 can be moved out and retracted in the direction of the floor 16. The removal direction is indicated in fig. 1 by an arrow R. In order to protect the contact region, the charging contact 22 is additionally surrounded by a protective sleeve 26, which is in the present case designed as a bellows, in a circumferential direction around the removal direction R. The protective sleeve 26 therefore sheaths the charging contact 22 in a tubular manner. The protective sheath 26 may likewise be removed and retracted. This takes place in particular in time synchronism with the removal and retraction of the charging contact 22.

In order to first reliably drain water or moisture from the floor 16 before coming into contact with the charging contacts 22, a fan unit 28 is also provided. The fan unit comprises a fan 30 with a fan motor and a control device 32 for operating the fan 30. The fan 30 is configured as a fan and can generate an air flow 34 when activated by the control device 32. In this case, the air flow 34 is provided in the direction of the floor 16 when the motor vehicle 10 is parked above the floor 16, in particular in its intended charging position. Where the air flow 34 is directed through the bellows 26. To ensure that no dirt, such as leaves or water, is present on the floor 16 before contact is established with the charging contacts 22, the fan 30 is already activated by the control device 32 before contact is established. The activation can take place in response to a signal S, which indicates the beginning of the coupling process. The signal S may also be an activation signal for activating the displacement of the charging contact 22 in the direction of the floor 16. That is, for example, if the charging unit 12 starts to move the charging contacts 22 out in the direction of movement out R towards the floor 16, the fan 30 can also be activated therewith.

Usually, such fans are operated during the entire charging process, which greatly impairs the overall efficiency of the charging process and is accompanied by large noise disturbances. However, since such charging systems are mainly used for private use, the charging systems are usually located in a protected environment, for example, in a private garage. In a private garage, a constant water load is at least almost excluded. However, it is of course also possible that water is present on the floor at the beginning of the charging process. Furthermore, water or snow melt water may also drip from the vehicle onto the floor during charging. Accordingly, it cannot be simply said that the fan can be disconnected after contact.

The invention and its embodiments now advantageously solve the problem in that the fan 30 can be intelligently adjusted as needed for the duration of the charging process. In particular, the deactivation of the fan 30 can be effected by the control device 32 as early as before the end of the charging process, depending on the situation parameter P. Input parameters for deciding the switching off of the fan 30 are, for example, weather forecast, season, previous driving route, time since last driving, etc. This information may already be present in the vehicle 10 as part of the situation parameter P or may be provided via a back-end or internet connection that all vehicles 10 will have in the future. It is therefore advantageously no longer necessary to activate the fan 30 in any case for the entire duration of the charging process.

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart for elucidating a method for operating the fan unit 28 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The method starts here with step S10: a coupling process for coupling the charging contacts 22 with the charging interface 24 is started. In the region of the beginning of this coupling process, the charging contact 22 is moved out in the direction of the floor 16. In step S12, the fan 30 is activated when the coupling process is started, which fan thus provides an air flow 34 in the direction of the floor 16. Then, in step S14, contact is made between charging contact 22 and charging interface 24 of floor 16. The impedance measurement is performed in step S16, and it is checked in step S18 whether the impedance measurement is normal. If not, the method can be interrupted in step S20 and a fault notification issued, for example. If normal, the charging process is started in step S22.

It is then checked in step S24 whether the detected situation parameter P meets a predetermined criterion. The situation parameter P may be one of the previously described situation parameters, such as weather data, the current season, a previous driving route, in particular the time since the last driving, or a driving distance last driven over. These parameters P are only examples and are not exhaustive. For example, as further case parameters P, also: whether the floor 16 is located below the roof, such as in a garage. From these situation parameters P, a probability calculation can be carried out, from which a probability is determined that no new moisture or water is present in the contact region, that is to say in the region of the floor 16 or in the contact region between the charging contact 22 and the charging interface 24. If the probability of such new moisture not occurring is sufficiently high, e.g., greater than a predetermined threshold, then the fan 30 is deactivated in step S26. Otherwise, the check is continued in step S24.

That is, the check in step S24 may be continued until the probability that new liquid will not flow out is high enough, followed by turning off the fan 30 or ending the charging process. If the latter is the case, the fan 30 is likewise deactivated and the charging contacts eventually retract again.

Overall, these examples show how smart fan control can be provided in an automated conductive charging system by the present invention, which allows for the fan to be controlled as needed and intelligently and in turn can significantly reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, the fan may be designed with a shorter service life and thus be cheaper.

Claims

1. A fan unit (28) for a conductive charging unit (12) of a motor vehicle (10), which is designed for automatic coupling to a charging plate (16) outside the motor vehicle, which charging plate provides a charging interface (24), in order to carry out a charging process for charging an energy store (14) of the motor vehicle (10), wherein the fan unit (28) is designed for,

-providing an air flow (34) into a predetermined direction;

-activating the provision of said airflow (34) as a function of a signal (S) indicating: the start of a coupling process for conductively coupling the charging unit (12) to the charging plate (16) for carrying out a charging process,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the fan unit (28) is designed to deactivate the provision of the air flow (34) before the charging process is ended, depending on the situation parameter (P).

2. The fan unit (28) of claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the fan unit (28) is designed to deactivate the air flow (34) depending on weather data provided as a situation parameter (P), wherein the weather data is current weather data and/or weather data relating to a previous specific time period.

3. The fan unit (28) of any of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the fan unit (28) is designed to deactivate the air flow (34) depending on data relating to the current season as a situational parameter (P).

4. The fan unit (28) of any of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the fan unit (28) is designed to deactivate the air flow (34) as a function of data relating to a last driving route of the motor vehicle (10) as a situation parameter (P).

5. The fan unit (28) of any of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the fan unit (28) is designed to deactivate the air flow (34) as a function of data relating to the time since the last driving of the motor vehicle (10) as a situation parameter (P).

6. The fan unit (28) of any of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the fan unit (28) is designed to deactivate the air flow (34) as a function of data relating to a property of the location of the charging plate (16), in particular a roof property of the location, as a condition parameter (P).

7. A conductive charging unit (12) for a motor vehicle (10) having a fan unit (28) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. Conductive charging unit (12) according to claim 7,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the conductive charging unit (12) has a charging contact (22) for coupling with a charging interface (24) of the charging plate (16), wherein the charging contact (22) can be moved out in a removal direction for coupling with the charging plate (16), wherein the charging unit (12) has a protective sleeve (26) which surrounds the charging contact (22) perpendicular to the removal direction and can be removed together with the charging contact (22), wherein the fan unit (28) is designed for providing an air flow (34) within the protective sleeve (26) in the removal direction before the charging contact (22) is completely removed, in particular wherein the charging unit (12) is designed for positioning on the underside (20) of the motor vehicle (10) and the charging contact (22) is designed for coupling with the charging plate (16) designed as a floor (16).

9. A motor vehicle (10) having a conductive charging unit (12) according to claim 7 or 8.

10. A method for operating a fan unit (28) of a conductive charging unit (12) for a motor vehicle (10), which is designed for automatic coupling to a charging plate (16) outside the motor vehicle, which charging plate provides a charging interface (24), in order to carry out a charging process for charging an energy store (14) of the motor vehicle (10),

-wherein the fan unit (28) provides an air flow (34) into a predetermined direction;

-activating the provision of said air flow (34) as a function of a signal (S) indicating: the beginning of a coupling process for conductively coupling the charging unit (12) to the charging plate (16) for carrying out a charging process,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the fan unit (28) deactivates the provision of the air flow (34) before the end of the charging process depending on the situation parameter (P).